Weinstein Co. sues over ‘Crow’ distrib’n

Suit claims first rights on remake

The Weinstein Co. has filed an injunction to halt Relativity’s sale of distribution rights to the remake of “The Crow” to anyone but TWC.

“If somebody tries to buy those rights other than the Weinsteins, those people will be simply buying a lawsuit,” said TWC attorney Bert Fields, who filed the suit in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Dispute centers on a contract between TWC and Relativity — signed “as of March 25, 2009” — that the suit claims gives TWC exclusive rights to sequels, prequels and remakes of 1994’s “The Crow,” which grossed close to $100 million worldwide.

While plans to remake the pic have been in motion for years, Fields said TWC grew worried over the past few days that Relativity might try to shop the pic around.

Stephen Norrington first came on to write and direct the movie, based on the comic by James O’Barr, in December 2008. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo recently boarded to direct the film, and Bradley Cooper has reportedly been in talks for the lead.

“(Relativity CEO Ryan) Kavanaugh decided that Relativity would not perform that contract and will purport to sell TWC’s distribution rights to others here and overseas in willful breach of contract,” the lawsuit states.

“This is yet another typical litigation stunt from the Weinsteins who have a long history of threatening law suits with the sole purpose of intimidation,”said Relativity in a statement. “While we expect these types of antics from the Weinsteins, we are shocked that a lawyer of Mr. Fields’ caliber would make such false, reckless and intentionally harmful statements to the press about Relativity and Mr. Kavanaugh. We intend to seek appropriate remedies for this misconduct.”